Cristóbal Bertao was born in La Debornuel, France, in the area of Rouen, Normandy and had come to New Spain at least by 1537. Cristóbal reported in 1547 that he was married to an unnamed daughter of Cristóbal Val López and had two children. Also that his parents were Luis Bertao and Malgarida Bertao. Prior to this 1547 document requesting aid from the government, there had been no indication that Cristóbal was on the Expedition.
1540-1550:
AGI, México 1064, L.1\1\, “Informes,” fol.124 = Boyd-Bowman, Indice geobiográfico, II:13148 = Icaza, Diccionario, #305 [vecino of Mexico City, native of La Debornuel/Bernuel, which is in the province of Ruan [Rouen: Verneuil?-sur-Seine, Berneval?]; son of Luis Bertao and Malgarida Bertao; 10 years in Nueva Esapña; went to Cíbola; married with a daughter of Cristóbal Val López and has 2 children (sons probably; no encomienda]